Aria has CURLY hair!!!

Lots of smiles in the morning. Aria turned 10 mos on the day before taxes were due...our little deduction =)

Aria and her lovey...

Aria sleeps with this pink satin blanket with a teddy bear head. Lately when she plays in her room, she crawls to her crib and tries to pull it out and crawl around with it...

I tossed lovey back in the crib, we are playing "fetch"...

Updates...

Aria is doing a lot of "free-standing" but no steps yet. She loves to try to push anything across the room, including Casey! She also loves to bang to balls together and chase them across the floor. She babbles constantly and I'm pretty sure she uses "da-da" and "ma-ma" specifically for us. She does sign language for dog (panting) and more (clapping). She eats by stuffing both hands and I'm amazed she doesn't choke! Her favorite foods are cheerios, banana, blueberries, baby gold fish, tofu, sweet potato, cheese...there is pretty much nothing she won't eat except broccoli!

It has been pretty hot here (thanks to Santa Ana winds) and we went in the hot-tub with her yesterday (turned up only to 86 or so) and she had a ball! She loves the water. I can't wait until the regular pool heats up (its about 80) to a good temp to swim.

We've had a lot of traffic for our house and may be getting an offer soon. C was back in Chesapeake/Richmond last weekend looking at different neighborhoods and getting a lay of the land. We may all be coming back soon if we do get an offer.

Will post more pictures soon....

Walk-n-ride...

My favorite thing in the world these days...to walk behind this thing.

...I get pretty frustrated when I push it into corners or walls.

Visit from Grandma

I'm actually having a great time hanging out with nana. I just hope I don't get her pneumonia!

Easter

Look what the Easter Bunny (our neighbors) left on our stoop!

Aria's new second favorite toy...her favorite is walking behind the walk-n-ride.

Updates: Walking with walker, crawling up stairs, crawling with stuff in my mouth...

Mmm tea towels!

My favorite place, in or near the high chair.

A Day in Our Life at 9 Months...

Drink formula (refuse to hold the sippy cup for the first feed)
Eat, clap (her sign language for "more") and get mad when food is gone
Climb on Casey
Morning walk with Casey
Pull to stand up on anything. Favorite things: the oven door and the sliding glass doors.
Throw tea towels on the floor or suck on them. This requires an extra level of cleanliness for my tea towels.
Pull toys out of boxes on shelves, showing very little interest other than throwing them on floor.
Pull books off bookcase in master bedroom
Play with tupperware
Take at least two naps for an hour plus..I've finally figured this out!
Bath by myself, or me and mommy or shower with daddy.
Cry my heart out when getting pj's and sleep sac on
Snuggle and smile just before mom she puts me down in the crib for the night...

Trying blueberries for the first time.

Love em!

Using Casey to stand...

Casey is not a huge fan of being used as a prop to help Aria stand...

...so he rolls over and makes her irritated...then adds insult to injury by trying to lick her.

You can see how happy Casey is = p but he is really good with her.

Dancing

Aria has just started "dancing". We have a vibrating plastic elephant toy--you push his nose and he trumpets and plays music--which causes Aria to do a head bob, shoulder shrug, torso twist that is her dance. It is extremely cute.

Crib Snacking...head "injury"....

Inside of Aria's crib....

...more munching.

Bruise on forehead from falling into banister. Probably the first of many.

Good morning!

Bathtime with Daddy...

Playing with Curious George...

Aria loves this Curious George that Chris won for me at the local fair...not exactly child friendly, I think she likes him because he claps.

This is my "I'm up to something" look...

Playing with the gate...

Trip

Chris, Aria and I had a great trip to Portland. Aria was a champ in the car and playing in the hotel room and the various McDonalds play areas we found for her. Trip back was a NIGHTMARE!! Both C and Aria picked up a HORRIBLE stomach bug (I'm convinced it was from the hotel pool) and the plane ride back was beyond description. Lets just say I feel sorry for everyone on the plane. Things are improving here finally...